A DISTRAUGHT man made a grim discovery yesterday when he came upon the body of his nephew lying on a deserted road after a hit-and-run accident early yesterday.

Enda Traynor, from Lemgare, Co Monaghan, was walking on the rural road near Clontibret, Co Monaghan, at around 7am yesterday when he made the grim discovery.

The body of the young man -- named locally as Fintan Traynor (20) from Lemgare -- was so badly injured his uncle did not initially recognise him, devastated family members told the Irish Independent yesterday.

Mr Traynor was dropped off near to where his body was found by a taxi at around 3am yesterday following a night out.

It is believed he was walking to his family home a short distance away when he was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at the scene of the accident.

The accident took place on a quiet road that links the villages of Clontibret and Annyalla with Derrynoose and Keady in Co Armagh.

Police on both sides of the Border are now looking for the driver and have appealed to anyone with information to come forward.

A garda spokesman said: "We are anxious for any shred of information which will piece together this young man's final movements."

He added that gardai wanted to speak to anyone who might have travelled on the road between 2am and 7.30am yesterday.

Mr Traynor's body was removed to hospital for a post-mortem examination.

A local resident said: "What has happened has really numbed our community. Fintan was a very outgoing young fellow and we are all stunned."

Mr Traynor is survived by his parents, Martin and Bridie, and a sister.

His death brings to three the number of young men who lost their lives on the roads this weekend.

A teenager who was on his way to milk cows for a local farmer also died in a crash in Co Mayo yesterday. He was named locally as Jonathan Munroe (19), from Kilmaine, Co Mayo.

He died at the scene when the car he was driving collided with another vehicle on the Headford to Ballinrobe Road near Shrule, Co Mayo, at 7.30am yesterday. He was the sole occupant of the car.

The driver of the other car, who was also alone, suffered minor injuries. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Gardai are also investigating a crash that claimed the life of a man in his mid-20s in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, on Saturday.

Injuries

The man, whose name has been withheld until next of kin have all been notified, was on the N52 from Mullingar to Tullamore when his car collided with another car south of Mullingar at around 4.40pm.

He was rushed to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar where he died from his injuries a short time later.

The two male occupants of the other car were also treated for their injuries, which are not believed to be life-threatening.

The accidents bring to 87 the number of people killed on our roads so far this year.

Meanwhile, one man was taken to hospital and others narrowly escaped injury when a vehicle went out of control and crashed into a hairdressing salon last night.

The accident occurred on Main Street, Ballybay, Co Monaghan, at 8pm after which the driver of the vehicle fled the scene. It is understood the driver lost control of the car and crashed into the salon, narrowly missing the front of the adjoining Rice's pub.